Monday Night Raw recap
Washington D.C.
Capitol One Arena
May 17th 2021
HOUSE OF MEMORIES - P!ATD
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Match 1: Big E w/The New Day vs James Storm
Match summary: This week’s edition of Monday Night Raw starts off by going straight into the action as Men’s WWE Champion Big E takes on James Storm in singles action. The veteran comes into this match with a point to prove. Storm is crafty and looks to use any tricks he can to pull off what would be a huge upset in this match, but Big E is in the form of his career and puts him away with the BOOTY DROP!
Winner via pinfall: Big E (6:03)
Big E gets to his feet after the match and is joined inside the ring by the rest of the New Day, with all 3 men once again having their titles on show for the live crowd. Big E takes the microphone first, giving James Storm credit for the tough fight he gave him, but says there is another level people will need to get to if they are going to take this WWE title from him. Big E proceeds to call out Cesaro, saying he heard his comments last week. He tells the Swiss Superman not to take his respect for him as weakness, and he’ll see him later tonight.
Big E then passes the microphone to Kofi, letting him speak now. Kofi says he gets to find out later tonight who will be fighting him for the Intercontinental title in 2 weeks. He promises to sit on commentary and watch first-hand who gets the chance to fight for this, showing off his Intercontinental title. Xavier Woods takes the microphone last out of the group and says that later tonight, he will show everyone why they believed in him, and he will keep the Cruiserweight title around his waist!
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When we come back from the commercial break, we see Alexa Bliss and Mickie James in a locker room hanging out together. Mickie James is shown getting ready for her Queen of the Ring first-round match. Alexa Bliss is talking to her and saying they need to plan for Alex’s last 16 match, but Mickie says they can after she takes care of her business. Bliss chuckles, and Mickie gives her a dirty look, asking why she is laughing. Bliss initially stays quiet, but Mickie pushes on it.
Alexa says she will need to see her win to believe it. Mickie fires back at Bliss and asks why she doubts she will beat Ruby Riott. Alexa says she knows how great Mickie once was, but she hasn’t exactly been showing it lately. Mickie fires back, saying neither of them has been on top form lately, but Bliss says she is already in the last 16 of the Queen of the Ring and has years ahead of her. Bliss smirks to end the promo, asking Mickie how long she has left?
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We then cut to the ring as Randy Orton slowly makes his way out. He gets his signature loud mixed reaction from the live crowd, but pays little attention to the fans in attendance. He steps into the ring and addresses the live crowd, saying once again that his attacking Drew McIntyre was nothing personal. He says, like Bobby Lashley, he looked around and surveyed the landscape before making a decision to go after the toughest man around, which was Drew McIntyre!
He gives Drew McIntyre credit, saying he has beaten him before and last year, he was on top of the world. Winning the Royal Rumble and then the WWE title at WrestleMania is only something legends can do… but Orton has made a career of killing legends. He says Drew has fallen down and is now in a position where someone can strike to overtake him in the pecking order. Orton says he wants to make sure he is next in line for a shot at the WWE or Universal title, no matter which brand he ends up on.
Drew McIntyre would then make his way out with a microphone in hand and tell Randy that if he just wanted a match, all he had to do was ask. Orton shakes his head, saying that exact response is why Drew hasn’t got his WWE title back! Orton says Drew is lacking the ruthless edge he needs to stay at the top. He has all the skills to make it there once, but after you make it, it gets so much harder to stay at the top of this company. Drew shakes his head, saying he can be ruthless when he needs to be, and challenges Orton to fight him right now!
The crowd loudly cheers, wanting to see the two former World Champions collide in the middle of the ring, but Orton tells Drew he won’t fight him tonight. The crowd loudly boos as Drew asks if he is scared now that Drew is expecting it, but Orton shakes his head. Orton says he is a legend and a star, so when he fights, he wants to make sure people are watching. He tells Drew McIntyre he will fight in two weeks here on Raw and show Drew that he has some way to go, ending the segment.
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When we return from the commercial break, we can see MVP, Swerve Strickland, and AR Fox meeting in what appears to be a conference room. Swerve noticeably wears a face protector over his nose as MVP, and thanks them for meeting him privately before he discusses it with the rest of the group. Swerve says it is not a problem and that they just want to do what’s best for the Hurt Business. MVP smiles, saying he hears that, but then outright asks Swerve why he went against their wishes for his match with Lio Rush!
Swerve says he was proving that Lio Rush was not ruthless, doing whatever it takes to get a job done, whilst AR Fox, after listening to Swerve, is. AR Fox says he was floundering on Monday Night Raw when he wasn’t listening to his close friend, but now, he has listened to him and sees the light; he knows they can get gold back into the group. Swerve points out that adding AR Fox would be a good business move because he can compete for titles, whilst the rest of the group cannot.
MVP looks to be thinking about the offer and says Swerve has a good point, but he asks how they can do business with someone who would go behind their backs. Swerve says he gets why MVP is wary to trust him, but reminds Montel that he was the very first recruit into the group for a reason. He says MVP saw that he was the future, and he will help get gold back in the Hurt Business. MVP says he will talk to the others and consider what Swerve said as he shakes their hands before leaving.
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Match 2: Queen of the Ring 1st Round match: Tegan Nox vs Tamina
Match summary: Tamina comes into this match not at 100% after going through the tables at Armageddon. Tegan controls the majority of the match using her speed and kicks before putting away Tamina with the SHINEST WIZARD to advance to the last 16!
Winner via pinfall: Tegan Nox (3:14)
Tegan gets to her feet and celebrates to loud cheers from the fans in the crowd. The commentary team talks about her run to the semi-finals next year and confirms she will face the winner of Mandy Rose and Shayna Baszler in the last 16 in a couple of weeks as Raw goes to a commercial break.
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We return from the commercial break to see British Strong Style standing next to Cathy Kelley, ready for an interview. She asks them about their recent issues with the Grizzled Young Veterans and Trent Seven. Tyler Bate speaks first, saying it has been a rough time for them because it is never nice to be betrayed by someone who is meant to be one of your best friends. He turns to Pete Dunne and says they are angry about what happened, but they have each other’s backs.
Pete Dunne says Trent made the biggest mistake of his career by betraying us as he did, but we have no plans to take it lying down! He talks about snapping the fingers of anyone who gets in their way before TRENT SEVEN AND THE GYV ATTACK BRITISH STRONG STYLE FROM BEHIND! The numbers game proves too much as the young British duo try to fight back, but, in the end, all 3 men lay them out. Trent walks over to Cathy and says That’s why he ditched them.
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Match 3: Ricochet vs Humberto Carrillo w/Angel Garza
Match summary: Ricochet comes into this match with a point to prove after a rough year, but Humberto has no intention of giving him an easy victory on Raw tonight. Humberto shows a lot of the improvements he has made in the ring ever since he joined The Ungovernables towards the end of the year, but it is not enough to stop Ricochet, who manages to put him away with RECOIL!
Winner via pinfall: Ricochet (7:44)
Ricochet gets to his feet and celebrates the victory, though he noticeably doesn’t celebrate too much. The commentary team hypes up Ricochet as a potential Cruiserweight title challenger, but his celebration is cut short by a sneak attack by Angel Garza! He grabs hold of the One and Only before planting him to the mat with the WING CLIPPER to loud boos from the crowd as Raw goes to a commercial break.
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The 2nd hour of Monday Night Raw starts with Rhea Ripley making her way out to the ring. The crowd gives Rhea loud cheers, but Rhea Ripley is angry on route to the ring. Rhea gets into the ring before she makes it clear that she is not a patient person and has never been that way. She says she knows why Charlotte Flair is ducking her after her antics at Backlash, but she doesn’t plan on waiting any longer to fight her to loud cheers from the crowd.
She paces around the ring and makes it clear that she told her friend Tegan to stay in the back so that Charlotte had no excuses about a numbers game. Rhea keeps on pacing, but there is no sign of the Queen, so Rhea says she is more than happy to go to the back and drag Charlotte to this ring by her hair if she has to! Eventually, Charlotte Flair walks onto the entrance ramp, getting loud boos from the fans, but the Queen has a cocky smirk on her face as she points at Ripley in the ring.
Charlotte Flair asks Rhea what the hurry is and says the damage she did to the right leg, Rhea should be counting herself lucky she can even make it to the Queen of the Ring. Rhea looks unimpressed, but Charlotte carries on, saying fighting with Rhea Ripley tonight will do nothing for Rhea except hurt her ahead of the biggest match of her career. Rhea scoffs and says she already had that when she won this Women’s Universal title at WrestleMania 37!
Charlotte shakes her head and tells Rhea Ripley that stepping into the ring with her is the highlight of anyone’s career. Rhea scoffs and says Then why doesn’t she give her the highlight early. Charlotte shakes her head and says she is more than happy to wait. She also quips why she would attack Rhea when she can get someone else to… AS NIA JAX ATTACKS RHEA RIPLEY FROM BEHIND! The crowd loudly boos as Nia Jax starts to beat down Ripley using the sneak attack to her advantage!
Charlotte Flair tosses the microphone to the side and sprints down the ring, happy to attack Rhea Ripley when the numbers are to her advantage. She and Nia work together to target the right leg of Rhea Ripley, but before they can do too much damage… TEGAN NOX RUNS OUT WITH A STEEL CHAIR IN HER HANDS! She sprints to the ring and slides inside before chasing off the heels. Tegan dares them both to come back, but Charlotte and Nia are happy to retreat for now as Raw goes to a commercial break.
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When we return from the commercial break, we see Charlotte Flair talking to Nia Jax backstage and pays her with a wad of cash. Nia smirks, looking happy, before the pair are approached by Raw’s commissioner, Wade Barrett. He says it is good to see his talent getting along and asks if they like working together. Nia says as long as I’m getting paid, which makes Wade smile, as he says, since they are paid by him, in that case, they can fight Rhea Ripley and Tegan Nox on next week’s Raw!
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Match 4: Bobby Lashley w/Lio Rush vs Cedric Alexander w/Shelton Benjamin
Match summary: Bobby Lashley comes into this match focused, but Cedric catches him off guard early on in the match! Cedric fires off on Bobby Lashley and lays into him with a series of hard strikes, peppering the All Mighty, who has to take a step back and replan how he is going to take down his opponent tonight. Shelton and Lio outside the ring cheer on their tag team partners as the commentary team makes note of the fact that MVP is backstage conducting business as we speak.
Cedric, as the match goes along, starts to struggle against the power of Bobby Lashley, who starts to take control of the match. Cedric tries to stay alive in this match and even tries to go for the LUMBAR CHECK… BUT HE CAN’T GET LASHLEY UP! Cedric follows up instead with a SUPERKICK, keeping him down before heading to the corner of the ring looking to dive off with OVERDRIVE… BOBBY CATCHES HIM WITH A MID-AIR SPEAR, CUTTING HIM RIGHT OFF! Bobby makes the cover and picks up the victory!
Winner via pinfall: Bobby Lashley (8:45)
Bobby gets to his feet and flexes to the live crowd, impressed with that brutal spear, as Shelton slides into the ring to check on Cedric after that brutal impact from the All Mighty. The commentary team puts over Bobby Lashley's performances as of late and even makes note that he is on a bit of a winning streak after losing to Orton at Backlash. Lio Rush slides into the ring, chatting to Bobby Lashley as Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin also rise to their feet, offering a handshake, but Lio and Bobby say we will talk, leaving the ring as Raw goes to a commercial break.
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When we return from the commercial break, Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush are talking to each other as they walk through the back, when they are stopped by Tom Phillips. He asks them about what we just saw and Bobby is starting to believe The Hurt Business had nothing to do with AR Fox’s actions. Bobby pauses and says he is still unsure what to make of it. Lio says he trusts them, but they are also going to focus on themselves for now and get payback on the people they know screwed him for now bringing the interview to an end!
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We then cut back to the ring as Samoa Joe makes his way out to the ring with a microphone in his hand and looks to be all business. He takes a moment to pace around the ring and starts by saying he has his thoughts on what Swerve Strickland pulled to stay in the Hurt Business. Joe says he is not a good person, but he is a man who believes in honour among thieves. He tells the crowd that Swerve told them he did not need help to win, yet used AR Fox to make sure he didn’t lose to Lio Rush.
Samoa Joe says he will be talking to MVP, but if he had any say, Swerve wouldn’t be in the Hurt Business any longer. This gets loud cheers from the live crowd, but Joe doesn’t care as he says he didn’t come out here to talk about that. Joe says he came out here to talk to a man face-to-face who wanted to challenge him to a match next week. He tells Keith Lee to get his ass to this ring right now. This gets a loud pop from the crowd, and we don’t have to wait long as Mr Money in the Bank, Keith Lee, walks out to a loud pop from the live crowd.
Keith Lee takes his time walking to the ring, with Joe staring down his challenger next week. Keith steps into the ring and comes face to face with Samoa Joe, taking a few seconds before speaking, saying Joe wanted to see him. Samoa Joe tells Keith Lee it takes a lot of guts to challenge him to a fight, saying most men wouldn’t challenge him to a fight. Keith quips back that he isn’t most men and lifts the Money in the Bank briefcase into the air, which annoys Joe.
Joe says he might have that briefcase, but he still needs to prove he is good enough to be a world champion. Keith smirks and tells Joe that’s why he issued the challenge. Joe tilts his head as Keith brings up his loss at King of the Ring in the semi-finals last year. Keith Lee says that was the first ceiling on his rise, and until he beats Samoa Joe, he ain’t even going to think about cashing this briefcase in. Joe smirks and tells Keith Lee he might be smarter than he gave him credit for.
Samoa Joe says he is the measuring stick of this business, and he has every intention of getting back into the World title picture as soon as possible. He looks at Keith’s briefcase and looks back at Keith Lee, saying beating the limitless one will give a claim to that, and if he gets the briefcase, he cannot be denied his rightful spot in the World title picture. Keith says he can try, as Samoa Joe tells Keith Lee he will find out everyone thinks they have no limit till they meet me!
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When we return from the commercial break, Andrade Cien Almas is walking through the back with Zelina Vega when Cathy Kelley stops them for an interview. She asks how Andrade is feeling ahead of the main event and the co-leader of the Ungovernables is cocky as ever. Zelina says Andrade is fully focused on Sami Zayn and getting The Ungovernables back to the top of Raw, where they belong. She points out the power vacuum currently in place with the Hurt Business locked out of the title picture.
Cathy says Zelina brings up an intriguing point, but also says the whole landscape on Raw could change in a few weeks due to the WWE Draft. Andrade smiles and tells Cathy that’s exactly why he wants to win the Intercontinental title. He says winning the title will prove how valuable the entire Ungovernables are to a brand, locking them in more money and more opportunities for gold. Cathy thanks them for their time as they walk off with cocky smirks on their faces.
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We then cut to Piper Niven as she sits backstage looking pissed off after the recent losses on the last two Raws. Piper says she came to Raw with high hopes; she just came off a quarter-final run in Queen of the Ring before losing to a legend and a Hall of Famer in Beth Phoenix. Piper says the performance during that tournament was what earned the chance to compete on Monday Night Raw, and she felt it was only a matter of time before she became Women’s Universal Champion.
She thought it was going to happen in Scotland last year, but she fell just short of Shayna Baszler. Piper then thought it was time to get some guidance, so she turned to Melina. She is full of praise for her friend, but says it still wasn’t enough to help her, and now she is gone. Piper says she avenged her friend, but when she tried to get into title contention, Charlotte injured her, causing her loss to Natalya. Piper says she needs some time to refocus, but promises that when she comes back, she will do whatever she needs to if it means having gold around her waist.
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Match 5: Cruiserweight title match: Xavier Woods © vs Oney Lorcan
Match summary: Oney starts off this match in aggressive and typically smash mouth fashion as he lays into Woods with a series of hard strikes. He lays it in thick to Xavier and the champion has to weather a bit of a storm. Xavier though, uses what he has over Oney Lorcan and uses his agility to start to take control of the encounter, catching Lorcan out. The American looks to fire back, but Woods is ready for him, hitting a TORNADO DDT INTO LIMIT BREAK to pick up the win and retain the Cruiserweight title!
Winner via pinfall and still Cruiserweight Champion: Xavier Woods (6:32)
Xavier Woods gets to his feet and celebrates the victory whilst Oney Lorcan sulks in the corner of the ring, having been proven wrong about Woods not being able to get the job done alone. The commentary team puts this over as a big win for Xavier Woods in his first one-on-one Cruiserweight title defence before wondering who could be next for him. Xavier heads up the entrance ramp and carries on his celebrations as he gets ready to head backstage… CESARO MAKES HIS ENTRANCE WITH ILJA DRAGUNOV BY HIS SIDE!
The crowd gives the Swiss Superman loud cheers as Ilja Dragunov sprints towards the ring, whilst Cesaro stays at the top of the entrance ramp and trades words with Woods off-mic. It gets a little heated before Cesaro ends the argument by SHOULDER BARGING PAST WOODS AND MARCHING TO THE RING! Xavier looks furious but chooses to leave before we hear the entrance for Tommaso Ciampa and Baron Corbin as Raw goes to a commercial break.
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Match 6: Cesaro and Ilja Dragunov vs Baron Corbin and Tommaso Ciampa
Match summary: The 3rd hour of Monday Night Raw starts with this tag team match underway. Ciampa and Corbin try to work together as a tag team, but they bicker quite a bit with each other during the match. Cesaro and Ilja, as former tag team champions, work together a lot better, and it becomes clear as the match enters the closing stages that there is only going to be one team winning. They take care of Ciampa with a RICOLA BOMB INTO A DIVING UPPERCUT FROM ILJA before CESARO HITS A CESARO SWING INTO A DROPKICK FROM ILJA for the victory tonight!
Winners via pinfall: Cesaro and Ilja Dragunov (8:31)
Cesaro and Ilja get to their feet, celebrating the victory over Ciampa and Corbin tonight on Monday Night Raw. The commentary team praises both men for their impressive performance tonight and says Cesaro is in the form of his life, so it will be a big challenge for Big E to overcome. The celebrations carry on whilst the heels argue outside the ring as Raw goes to a commercial break.
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When we return from the commercial break, Cesaro and Ilja Dragunov are walking through the back when they come face to face with The New Day. Big E steps forward and asks Cesaro who he thinks he is pushing around, but the Swiss Superman doesn’t back down, getting right in the face of Big E, saying he should get his friends to watch their mouths. Kofi tries to play peacemaker, but Ilja shouts back at him, saying Woods was disrespecting them, prompting Woods to fire back that they interrupted his celebrations.
Cesaro says he was taking too long and wonders if it is because it took so long to win a belt on his own… BIG E PUNCHES CESARO FOR THAT COMMENT! Cesaro clutches his jaw as Big E tells him to watch his mouth… BUT CESARO FIRES BACK WITH AN UPPERCUT DROPPING BIG E! Both men are ready to throw hands with one another, but their friends pull them back as tensions are starting to flare between the two men about to fight for the Men’s WWE title!
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We cut back to the ring, and we can see The Miz's TV set in the middle of the ring, ready as Miz stands ready to host the show once again. He takes some time to play to the fans who are cheering for him before hyping himself and his achievements surrounding the Intercontinental title over the years. He calls himself the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time, and if anyone knows how to make someone an Intercontinental Champion, it is him!
He welcomes his guest at this time, the Celtic Warrior Sheamus! He gets loud cheers from the crowd and pounds his chest before walking to the ring, looking a bit annoyed on his way to the ring. He steps inside and looks at The Miz’s hand before slowly shaking it. He takes a seat, and Miz thanks him for agreeing to this. Sheamus sighs and says he is willing to give Miz one chance to prove why he should listen to the fella. Miz says it is all he will need before cutting to a video package he has made.
We see images of Miz winning the Intercontinental title 9 times over the years and clips of each other's wins, plus his over-played on Twitter Talking Smack promo. Sheamus is shown throughout watching on looking not particularly impressed, before the video package comes to an end. He turns back to Sheamus and asks what he thinks. The Celtic Warrior takes a moment to answer and says he respects what Miz has done, but the way he has managed on most occasions is via methods Sheamus wouldn’t use.
The Miz then proceeds to show a 2nd video package, which shows all the times that Sheamus has come close to winning the IC title and ended up losing. Sheamus looks furious at this, but Miz looks at him with a smile and says This is why he needs the help. Sheamus, though, loses his temper at this point and knocks his chair down, squaring up to The Miz! Miz backs away a bit and says he has one other way to prove it, challenging Sheamus to a match next week. Sheamus scowls before telling Miz he accepts bringing the segment to an end!
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When we return from the commercial break, we cut to another video package (this time not made by The Miz), this time showing NXT superstar Kay Lee Ray! We get to see her in action as the commentary hypes her up and brings up her 572-day title reign as NXT UK Women’s Champion. We then hear a few words from Kay Lee Rae, who says she has dominated NXT UK and now it is time for her to dominate the entire world, bringing the short promo to an end!
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Match 7: Queen of the Ring 1st Round match: Isla Dawn vs Kay Lee Ray
Match summary: Kay Lee Ray comes into this match with a fellow Scotswoman, Isla Dawn, with a cocky smirk on her face and pulls off a few cheap shots to get heat from the crowd. Dawn does her best to keep up with Kay Lee Ray, but it becomes clear that the NXT UK star is on another level, and she picks up the victory, hitting Isla Dawn with the KLR BOMB to advance to the last 16!
Winner via pinfall: Kay Lee Ray (5:33)
Kay Lee Ray gets to her feet with a cocky smirk and taunts the fans, having gotten heat for some of her cheap shots during the match. The commentary team confirms it is an all-NXT affair in the last 16, as Kay Lee Ray will fight Lyra Valkyria in two weeks on SmackDown Live for a spot in the quarter finals, as we cut to a commercial break.
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When we return from the commercial break, we cut to inside the Hurt Business locker room as MVP sits on a chair in front of Samoa Joe, Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander and EJ Nduka. He takes a moment to speak before saying he has filled them in what Swerve had to say in regards to his actions and help from AR Fox. MVP turns to Joe first and says he heard what Joe had to say in the ring earlier. The former WWE Champion responds with a nod saying silent as MVP turns to EJ Nduka.
EJ says Swerve just did what he needed to do to win, and maybe if we did a little more of that, we would still be holding titles. The other 3 members of the Hurt Business in the room with him give him a bit of a death glare before MVP turns to Cedric and Shelton. They both say it’s not how they would have taken care of the business with Lio Rush, but he stuck to his word on a technicality. They both want a bit of time to think about it, but at the end of the day, it is MVP’s call. MVP nods and says they will talk during the week before making the final decision next Monday as we cut back to the ring!
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Match 8: Queen of the Ring 1st Round match: Mickie James vs Ruby Riott
Match summary: Ruby comes into this match with a serious look on her face, still chasing her first gold in the WWE. Mickie James, meanwhile, has a scowl with the veteran on a bit of a losing streak as of late and wants to get back on track. Mickie, during the match, controls a lot of it, even using dirty tricks she would not normally use, but Ruby stays alive to the delight of the live crowd. Mickie’s frustration starts to build and, in the end, it gets the best of her as Ruby catches her with the RIOT KICK to advance to the last 16!
Winner via pinfall: Ruby Riott (7:41)
Ruby Riott gets to her feet, having picked up the victory over a multiple-time Women’s Champion. Mickie James looks furious and rolls out of the ring, kicking the steel steps in anger before she storms off backstage. Ruby Riott carries on the celebrations before commentary confirms she will fight Toni Storm from NXT in the last 16 next week, before Raw goes to a commercial break.
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When we return from the commercial break, Shotzi Blackheart is shown leaving the trainer’s room with her arm still in a sling, and she still looks in a bad mood. Cathy Kelley approaches her for an interview and asks her thoughts on Ruby’s win. Shotzi gives her a dirty look and quips that there is no concern about her, plus how she is doing. She shakes her head as KyLinn King walks up to the pair of them and towers above both women before putting a hand on Shotzi’s good shoulder.
KyLinn says people aren't treating Shotzi with any respect, and she needs a friend who will not only have her back but also won’t leave her behind when she gets injured. Shotzi takes a moment to think before saying Ruby has been a great friend and brought her to Raw, but King asks her what Ruby has done for her lately, which leaves Shotzi deep in thought. KyLinn tells her to think about who is actually there for her as we cut elsewhere backstage.
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We cut to the inside of what looks like The Hart Dungeon as we can see Marina Shafir grappling with some poor woman who is getting her ass kicked as Natalya and Shayna Baszler watch on. Natalya speaks first, telling the camera that no one expected her to beat Piper Niven, but that’s because the fans haven’t been paying attention to her history, her family legacy. Marina snaps the arm one more time and breaks it as the person screams in agony, rolling away.
Natalya says she is sick of being overlooked, and it doesn’t matter who wins on NXT, out of Emma or Jinny, she is doing what she needs to if it means making it to the quarter finals of the Queen of the Ring. Shayna says the group had a slight setback when Marina got caught, so we are having her undergo a bit more training to sharpen up, but I am ready to get right back to the top where I belong. She tells the camera that Mandy is too busy worrying about her boyfriend when she should be worried about which limb she is going to break on the way to becoming Queen!
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We cut to a hallway backstage as Sami Zayn is shown walking to the ring when he is stopped by Tom Phillips for an interview. He asks about Sami now being one match away from a shot at getting back the Intercontinental title. Sami tells him that becoming a champion on Raw was something he had worked hard to get in contention for, but tonight he has the chance to get a rematch for the title he lost and will fight with everything he has. Tom then asks about Mustafa Ali’s reaction to losing last week. Sami shrugs and says if Ali still has a problem, he can come find him after Sami fights for the Intercontinental title! Sami heads to the ring as Raw goes to the final commercial break of the evening!
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Just before the main event begins, we cut to the commentary team, and we hear Kofi Kingston confirm that he will take on Ilja Dragunov on next week’s Raw, and to add further stakes to the match, he will put the Intercontinental title on the line!
Main event: Intercontinental series final: Andrade Cien Almas w/Zelina Vega vs Sami Zayn
Match summary: Both men come into this main event confident and determined to walk out with a shot at the Intercontinental title in a couple of weeks on Raw. Zelina Vega is full of instructions for her client throughout the match and keeps Andrade focused on getting the job done, whilst Sami keeps an eye on her, knowing Zelina has no problem making an impact on a match. In the early stages of the bout, both men are quite evenly matched, but the crowd is rooting for Sami to walk out the victor.
Sami Zayn as we enter the middle stages of the match is starting to look like he is taking control of the match but thanks to a well-timed Zelina distraction Andrade takes control of the match and grinds down the Underdog from the Underground on the mat! The crowd are behind Sami Zayn and hope for him to pull out the win as he starts to mount a fight back and puts Andrade on the back foot as the match starts to end the final stages. Sami Zayn is taking control and even sends Andrade into the corner of the ring as he charges in and connects with the HELLUVA KICK!
Andrade falls out of the corner, and Sami makes the cover… BUT ZELINA DISTRACTS THE REFEREE! Sami gets the visible 3 count but gets to his feet, furious when the crowd boos even louder… MUSTAFA ALI SLIDES INTO THE RING AND HITS A STANDING SPAINISH FLY! The boos are loud, but Ali leaves the ring as Andrade comes to see the downed Sami and doesn’t ask questions, planting him with the HAMMERLOCK DDT for good measure! Andrade hooks the leg and earns an Intercontinental title shot!
Winner via pinfall: Andrade Cien Almas (12:12)
Andrade gets to his feet as the crowd loudly boos him, but the former Universal Champion doesn’t care, soaking in the heat whilst Zelina Vega raises his arm into the air. Sami Zayn slowly comes to and realizes what happened, seeing Mustafa Ali running away, so he chases after him! Raw, meanwhile, comes to an end with Kofi Kingston and Andrade Cien Almas having a stare down ahead of their IC title in two weeks!
Confirmed matches for next week:
Intercontinental title match:
Kofi Kingston © vs Ilja Dragunov
Queen of the Ring 2nd Round match:
Toni Storm vs Ruby Riott
Queen of the Ring 2nd Round match:
Emma or Jinny vs Natalya
Singles match:
Keith Lee vs Samoa Joe
Singles match:
Sheamus vs The Miz
Tag team match:
Rhea Ripley and Tegan Nox vs Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax
Confirmed matches in two weeks:
WWE title match:
Big E © vs Cesaro
Intercontinental title match:
Kofi Kingston or Ilja Dragunov © vs Andrade Cien Almas
World tag team titles match:
The Street Profits © vs Jeff Jarrett and Heath Slater
Queen of the Ring 2nd Round match:
Franky Monet or Sonya Deville vs Liv Morgan
Queen of the Ring 2nd Round match:
Tegan Nox vs Mandy Rose or Shayna Baszler
Singles match:
Drew McIntyre vs Randy Orton
Raw EWR Rating:
68%
NXT Update:
Bayley w/Sasha Banks vs Iyo Sky w/Zoey Stark
Match summary: In the opening match of the night, Bayley comes back to NXT to take on a fellow former NXT Women’s Champion, Iyo Sky! Bayley starts the match acting a bit cocky and pays for it as Iyo Sky shows she can hang with the former Women’s Champion. Outside the ring, both women have their tag team partners, and Sasha Banks makes an impact as she trips up Iyo Sky, allowing Bayley to get back into the match to loud boos from the crowd.
The commentary makes note of the fact that the crowds are starting to turn against Bayley and Sasha Banks due to their recent behaviour, and the aggressiveness of Bayley once in control doesn’t do anything to change the crowd’s mind! Iyo Sky stays in the match, and as time goes on, it becomes clear that Iyo Sky is on the same level as Bayley and is actually giving her a run for her money before we enter the closing stages of this contest.
Bayley goes for the BAYLEY TO BELLY slamming Iyo Sky down to the mat, but it still only gets her a 2 count! Bayley looks angry about this but looks to go for the ROSEPLANT… BUT IYO COUNTERS AND WITH A GERMAN SUPLEX! She sends Bayley into the ropes before hitting a TIGER FEINT KICK! Iyo heads up top, and Sasha tries to get involved, but ZOEY STARK STOPS HER! Iyo dives off the top rope, hitting OVER THE MOONSAULT FOR THE WIN!
Winner via pinfall: Iyo Sky (14:47)
Queen of the Ring 1st Round match: Emma vs Jinny
Match summary: Emma comes into this match with Jinny full of cool and calm confidence, with the NXT crowd behind the veteran in this match tonight. Jinny comes into the match very cocky and even during the match mocks the veteran, saying she failed in the big leagues. This cockiness soon comes back to bite Jinny as Emma locks in the EMMA LOCK and forces a tap out from the cocky Brit.
Winner via pinfall: Emma (4:49)
Queen of the Ring 1st Round match: Bianca Belair vs Stevie Turner
Match summary: Stevie Turner comes into this match as an underdog, but Bianca Belair does get a bit taken aback by how good the Brit is in the ring, making Belair have to bring her best. In the closing stages, Stevie is looking to go for the CODE RED… BUT BELAIR FIGHTS OUT AND COUNTERS WITH THE K.O.D! Belair makes the cover and the pre-tournament favourite advances to the last 16!
Winner via pinfall: Bianca Belair (6:55)
Main event: North American title steel cage match: Johnny Gargano © vs Bronson Reed
Match summary: Exactly what happened in real life happens here, just felt weird to do this in a separate section to the other NXT matches I am covering, but Bronson Reed wraps up his feud with Johnny Gargano and becomes North American Champion.
Winner via pinfall and new North American Champion: Bronson Reed (15:29)
News Update:
More releases from WWE:
The following names have been let go from the WWE as of May 19th:
- Alexander Wolfe
- Erick Rowan
- Kassius Ohno
- Masha Slamovich
- Skyler Story
- Vanessa Bourne
Deonna Purrazzo picks up a hand injury on a house show
Deonna, this week on a house show, picked up a hand injury, which means she has to miss some ring time. It is unknown how this will affect her upcoming PPV match with Taynara Conti, but officials are hoping she gets cleared in time for the PPV. We will see how this impacts her feud with Conti on SmackDown Live this week.
SmackDown Live recap
Brooklyn, New York
Barclays Centre
May 21st 2021
SmackDown Live starts with the signature cold open, and there is no other group we should be focusing on as The Bloodline has arrived! Roman Reigns leads the way with the Men’s Universal title on show, but has Paul Heyman by his side. The Usos stand behind with their WWE Tag Team titles, and Jacob Fatu is also behind them with the United States title on show. Naomi and Tamina are talking to each other in the back when Kayla Braxton walks up looking for an interview, but Paul Heyman says The Bloodline will address everything in their ring before heading into the arena.
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HALESTORM – MAYHEM
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The Bloodline, as promised, make their way out to the ring, getting nuclear heat from the live crowd on the way to the ring. Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman stand front and centre in the middle of the ring with the rest of the group standing behind him. Roman has a smug smirk on his face, now a 7-time World Champion! Paul Heyman speaks first, doing his usual signature spiel before introducing Roman Reigns as not only the Tribal Chief but the 7-time Men’s Universal Champion!
Paul gloats and says they planned it out perfectly, ending Bryan’s false reign with Roman’s title. Heyman is about to carry on, but Roman raises a hand and signals for the microphone, which prompts Paul to pass the mic over. Roman Reigns says people thought he went into hiding, but as soon as he lost the title at WrestleMania, he was plotting to get what is his back around his waist! Roman, though, makes it clear he didn’t just want his title back; he wanted to make sure Bryan suffered!
Roman says Bryan was breaking his body week in week out with the open challenges and the constant fights, whilst Roman waited in the background for the right time to get back what is always his. The Tribal Chief lifts his gold into the air with The Usos and Jacob Fatu behind him, joining in before Roman says this is the family that runs SmackDown Live, before he looks directly at Naomi and Tamina, who now look a bit nervous as Roman brings up their lack of gold. Before anything else is said, though…
ALPHA ACADEMY makes its way out onto the top of the entrance ramp! Kurt Angle has a microphone leading out Chad Gable, Buddy Murphy, and Daniel Garcia. Noticeably, there is no Daniel Bryan, and Kurt Angle quickly confirms that Bryan is not here due to his injuries tonight, but they are ready for a fight. Alpha Academy heads to the ring, not caring about the numbers game, but the commissioner, Shawn Michaels, stops them. He tells Alpha Academy that they need to save it for the main event, as they will take on The Bloodline later tonight. The segment comes to an end with both groups staring each other down.
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Match 1: Queen of the Ring 1st Round match: Carmella vs Nina Samuels
Match summary: When we return from the commercial break, Naomi has taken a seat on commentary and has put on a headset. Nina Samuels from NXT UK is cocky during the match, but Carmella is a former Women’s Champion, so she stays focused on the job at hand. Naomi is watching closely and comments that she is going to beat whoever walks out of this match with the win. Nina gives a good showing, but in the end, Carmella drops her with the PRINCESS KICK to advance to the last 16!
Winner via pinfall: Carmella (5:05)
Carmella gets back to her feet after the bell and gets into a stare-down with Naomi. Both women trash-talk each other as the commentary team confirms that in two weeks, they will collide in the last 16 of the Queen of the Ring!
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We then cut backstage as we can see the WWE Women’s tag team champions, The Boss ‘N’ Hug Connection, standing backstage. Bayley is pacing up and down, furious, whilst Sasha Banks stays stoic as she looks at the camera. Bayley complains about the loss on NXT, calling it a fluke and demanding that she be respected. Sasha grabs her friend and looks to calm her down, saying they are still the longest reigning tag team champions of all time, plus she is calling out Zoey Stark, telling her to meet Sasha on their turf next week, which seems to calm Bayley down for now as we go to a commercial break.
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When we return from the commercial break, we see AJ Styles hanging out backstage with his friend Big Cass. AJ says it was a bit of a setback losing to Adam Cole at Armageddon, and he views it as a personal loss since he was the man pinned by the new leader of the O.C. AJ takes a moment to sigh as Big Cass puts a hand on his friend’s shoulder. Cass says they win and lose together, but AJ shakes his head, saying he is meant to be Phenomenal, but he is starting to wonder if age is starting to catch up with him.
He looks at Big Cass and says he has had a long career, even wrestling back in WCW towards the end. He has toured the world and won world titles everywhere since those days. He says, though, it is time they get back on track, and they can start by making The Good Brothers pay for what they did! Big Cass says they got to duck their challenge from before, using Finn’s injury as an excuse, but they are not waiting any longer and want an answer from The Good Brothers by the end of the night!
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We then cut back to the ring, but instead we hear the start of the Firefly Funhouse introduction, and we cut inside the Funhouse to see Bray Wyatt in his Mr Rodgers style jumper waving at the camera with a sinister smile. He welcomes everyone to the show and says today’s show is going to be about how to handle loss. We see a painting on the wall of Seth Rollins standing over Aleister Black inside of Hell in a Cell at WrestleMania 37. The camera pans back to Bray, who has a huge grin on his face.
He says a loss like that can break a person; it can make them go down a dark path as we see flashes of the Fiend showing on the screen. We then cut to another painting on the wall, this time showing The Fiend hitting Kevin Owens with the mandible claw. Bray goes on saying you can look to friends for support or you can look to break others as a way to cope with loss, but we will all suffer setbacks throughout our lives. As he is about to carry on, rambling rabbit comes running into the shot well, rambling.
He complains about the noises coming from the basement, prompting Bray to grab the rabbit by the throat and lift him up, choking the puppet! He says he is spoiling the surprise before the head pops off the rabbit! He looks at the dead rabbit and looks to the camera, shrugging his shoulders, going oops before tossing the corpse to the side. Bray says he has been learning that the best way to deal with loss is with friends, before we cut to a painting showing Braun Strowman lying on a car in front of Jacob Fatu.
Bray then laughs like a madman before the camera shows Braun Strowman on the way out of an ambulance at a hospital, but the lights go out… THE FIEND ATTACKS THE MEDICAL STAFF HELPING BRAUN STROWMAN! The Fiend then turns to Braun, who is struggling to stand, and CHOKES HIM WITH THE CLAW BEFORE KIDNAPPING BRAUN! We cut back to the Firefly Funhouse and cut to what seems to be the basement underneath the usual set as BRAUN STROWMAN IS TIED UP BEFORE THE SCREEN GOES TO BLACK!
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Match 2: Queen of the Ring 1st Round match: Franky Monet vs Sonya Deville
Match summary: Franky Monet and Sonya Deville come into this match knowing this is a big opportunity for both of them. Sonya spends the match trying to work over Monet’s arm, but the veteran is crafty and fights through the pain, keeping alive in this match. As the match reaches the closing stages, Sonya tries to get the win with a KIMURA LOCK… BUT FRANKY GETS TO THE ROPES! Sonya breaks the hold before coming back on the attack… EYE RAKE FROM FRANKY! A cheap shot, but Monet pounces on it, hitting Sonya with ROAD TO VALHALLA! Franky makes the cover and advances to the last 16!
Winner via pinfall: Franky Monet (6:45)
Franky gets to her feet and gloats after her victory tonight, a step closer to becoming Queen of the Ring. Corey Graves makes note that she uses the same finishing move as last year’s Queen of the Ring, his fellow commentator Beth! She comments that Franky has good taste before saying Liv Morgan is going to be a tough task to get past, before we cut elsewhere backstage.
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The Singh brothers are walking through the back, counting their money from last week when CHAD GABLE AND DANIEL GARCIA ATTACK THEM! Both men connect with a chop block each to the right leg of one of the brothers before going after their leg and twist them in ANKLE LOCKS! Both scream in pain before they get hoisted off the floor and SLAMMED DOWN WITH A GERMAN SUPLEX! Gable and Garcia look at the two men before going to one another 2 down 1 to go!
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We cut elsewhere backstage as Byron Saxton approaches Mrs Money in the Bank, Ember Moon, for an interview! She asks how she is preparing for her last 16 match with Dani Luna on next week’s SmackDown Live. Ember scoffs and says she is going to beat Dani Luna because this is her division. She taps the Money in the Bank briefcase and reminds everyone that she still has one guaranteed Women’s title match in the bag, but winning this means she can win both the WWE and Universal title!
She goes on saying a fluke win by someone like Bianca Belair doesn’t matter… and if by magic the E.S.T. appears, confronting Ember Moon! Belair reminds Ember she is still in this tournament and next week she is going to beat her friend Alexa Bliss’s ass the same way she beat Ember’s… PROMPTING EMBER TO ATTACK BELAIR! The two women throw hands with one another and brawl until a swarm of security and referees pulls them apart from one another!
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When we come back from the commercial break for the 2nd hour of SmackDown Live, Xia Li makes her way out, joined by her tag team partner and WWE Women’s Champion Taynara Conti. They wait in the ring as Deonna Purrazzo makes her way out with her right hand in a cast. She tells the fans in attendance that if they heard the news, she is not cleared to compete tonight. She shows off the cast but does state that she plans to be ready to compete when it matters the most at Queen of the Ring!
She says she knows the fans are disappointed, but she is doing the smart thing, unlike what someone like Conti would do. Taynara looks annoyed, but Xia calms her down to stop her from going up the ramp to attack Deonna. Purrazzo says she spoke to both the commissioners for Raw and SmackDown before coming to a business arrangement, confirming that NIA JAX will be taking her spot in tonight’s match. The Raw superstar walks to the ring and steps inside, towering over Xia Li before the referee calls for the bell to get the match underway.
Match 3: Nia Jax w/Deonna Purrazzo vs Xia Li w/Taynara Conti
Match summary: Xia Li struggles early on in this match, having prepared for Deonna Purrazzo, who is a submission specialist, and now is facing a powerhouse in Nia Jax. The Raw superstar dominates and controls the match as she tosses the Chinese superstar around the ring. Xia tries to use her martial arts experience and kicks to bring down the giantess, but Nia Jax takes over the match and, in the end, puts away Xia Li with the FIREMAN CARRY INTO A FALLING POWERSLAM for the victory!
Winner via pinfall: Nia Jax (4:31)
Nia Jax gets to her feet and soaks in the boos from the live crowd, happy with her handiwork on behalf of Deonna Purrazzo. The commentary team puts over the brainpower of Deonna to find Nia Jax as a replacement, but it seems Nia isn’t done. She lays into Xia Li with a bunch of hard blows as Conti tries to make the save… DEONNA PURRAZZO TRIPS UP CONTI, STOPPING HER FROM MAKING THE SAVE! Nia pounces on that and hits the running leg drop as Nia Jax stands tall over both women in the ring, and Deonna backs away, smirking as SmackDown Live goes on a commercial break.
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When we return from the commercial break, Mr Money in the Bank, Keith Lee, and Dominik Dijakovic are standing together backstage, with Keith slightly smirking. Keith Lee says he has important business to take care of on Raw this week ahead of the draft, but that doesn’t mean he is done on SmackDown. Dijakovic brings up the 8-man tag at Armageddon, but says there was another match that they were meant to have at that show, and they want to take care of that business.
Keith Lee says they want to get their hands on not just Jordan Devlin but Adam Cole as well. Dijakovic says they are pretty happy to let the pair of them pick the terms whether it is a two-on-two match or two single matches but they are not done with The O.C. members. Keith Lee says he is familiar with Adam Cole from their time together down in NXT but he is giving him a chance to prove that he might have become better than the last time he beat him otherwise Adam is going to have to bask in his glory!
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Match 4: Queen of the Ring 1st Round match: Mandy Rose vs Shayna Baszler
Match summary: Mandy is nowhere near 100% as she enters this match, and Shayna shows no mercy, targeting her cruelly and focusing on the arm. Mandy tries her best but can barely fight back, and Shayna picks up the win with an ARMBAR!
Winner via submission: Shayna Baszler (3:57)
Shayna holds on for a few extra seconds before dropping Mandy to the mat and soaking in the heat from the live crowd. Mandy screams in pain, and Shayna takes that as a signal to twist her arm on the mat and STOMPS ON IT TO LOUD BOOS FROM THE CROWD! Mandy screams even louder as Corey and Beth put Shayna over as potentially the most dangerous person left in the tournament, whilst medics come out to make sure Mandy is OK, as SmackDown Live goes to a commercial break.
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When we return from the commercial break, we can see Mandy Rose being taken to an ambulance, and she is followed by her friend Sonya Deville! Mandy is in a ton of pain, but notices that Sonya is wincing as well when Otis Dozovic comes into the scene to check on his girlfriend. He asks how she is, and she says she is not well. A medic confirms she will need to go to the hospital. Sonya offers to go with her, but Mandy says she has her own injuries that need to be taken care of and instead asks Otis to come with her.
Otis nods and says Of course but just as he climbs in, his arm is grabbed by TUCKER KNIGHT! Tucker asks Otis what he is doing as they have practice. Otis says he needs to take care of this, but Tucker says they need to focus on the tag team titles and stop worrying about Mandy… OTIS PUSHES HIM DOWN! Otis shakes his head, and the ambulance door closes with Mandy and Otis leaving the arena. The camera then pans to Tucker Knight, who looks furious, before we cut back to the ring.
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We see The O.C. start to make their way out to the ring, getting boos from the live crowd. Adam Cole leads the way with Jordan Devlin and The Good Brothers following behind him. They all step into the ring as Adam Cole takes a microphone and teases the crowd, asking if they want another story time with Adam Cole? The crowd gives a mixed reaction as he smirks before telling the fans the only story they have to talk about right now is addressing a group of people they have already proved they are better than!
The crowd boos, but Adam Cole says that at Armageddon, the O.C. proved why they are at the top of SmackDown Live when they defeated AJ and all of his friends! Adam says he finds it funny how they are issuing challenges to them again, but The O.C. are always happy to prove they are on top. Adam Cole says he will fight Dominik Dijakovic on next week’s SmackDown, whilst he will give Jordan the biggest opportunity of his career, and he will fight Keith Lee.
Jordan has a big smile on his face and thanks Adam before borrowing the microphone for a little bit. He says that when he beats Keith Lee, he will prove he should get a shot for his briefcase, and then he will be next in line for the Universal title. Karl then also asks for the microphone and says they will fight AJ Styles and Big Cass in two weeks on the condition that they meet them in the ring next week. Luke Gallows chimes in to say they want to see AJ in the face and tell him why they need to put him down before Adam Cole finishes off the promo, saying they will soon start to take over!
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When we return from the commercial break, we see Rey Mysterio hanging out with his son, Dominik Mysterio, when they are approached by Kayla Braxton looking for an interview. She asks how they are feeling two weeks removed from losing out to The Usos at Armageddon for the WWE Tag Team titles. Rey Mysterio says you have setbacks during your WWE career, but they will overcome this, and they are far from done when it comes to chasing those tag team titles.
Dominik says he is proud to be teaming with his dad, and there is nothing more important than doing what is right for the people you love. As the interview is about to carry on, Tucker Knight appears and barges past them. Dominik spins him around and asks what his problem is. Tucker says they were in his way, but Dom rightfully points out they were in the middle of an interview. Rey tells Tucker he should learn some respect, leading to Tucker challenging Dominik Mysterio to a match next week, which the young rookie accepts!
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We then cut backstage to see members of The Church of Seth Rollins kneeling in front of a pew as they wait for their leader, Seth Rollins, to appear. He slowly walks onto the stage with his arms outstretched, then takes his place on the pew and addresses his disciples. He says Armageddon was a bad night for the Church and all of them suffered setbacks, prompting Karrion Kross to raise an eyebrow, having walked out of his match victorious.
Seth Rollins says he was supposed to save the Men’s Universal title, but he was unable to; Daniel Bryan escaped and got lucky to survive. Seth smirks and chuckles to himself, boasting that the damage he did to Bryan was why his former brother was able to pick the bones and become champion… again. There is a lot of anger on Seth’s face as he talks about his former tag team partner, Roman Reigns, but the self-proclaimed God looks to regain his composure.
He says that a time of change is approaching with the WWE Draft in the distance. This makes the disciples look up at Seth Rollins, confused, as he explains he has spoken to the commissioners, and if fate chooses to let some of his disciples move to another brand, he shall allow that. Kross smirks and doesn’t seem fazed by that, whilst Nathan Frazer looks confused and concerned, whilst The Authors of Pain look annoyed. Seth wraps up the promo and says it is time for them to look for their new path before we cut elsewhere backstage.
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Shinsuke Nakamura is walking through the back, looking smug, when he gets CLOBBERED FROM BEHIND BY BUDDY MURPHY! He lays into Shinsuke with a series of hard strikes and hits him with a KAMIGOYE! He then looks at the table nearby them and drags Shinsuke Nakamura off the floor before PUTTING HIM THROUGH THE TABLE WITH MURPHY’S LAW! Buddy gets back to his feet and tells Shinsuke to stay out of his business from now on before heading to the ring as the commentary team confirms the main event for the evening is up next!
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Main event: Alpha Academy (Chad Gable, Buddy Murphy and Daniel Garcia) w/Kurt Angle vs The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Jacob Fatu and Jimmy Uso) w/Paul Heyman and Jey Uso
Match summary: The Bloodline chose to have Roman Reigns, Jacob Fatu, and Jimmy Uso representing them in this match, with Jey Uso staying outside the ring throughout the match with Paul Heyman. Murphy starts the match with Jimmy Uso and is aggressive right from the off with Alpha Academy wisely isolating the weak link in this match until Jimmy escapes and manages to get Jacob Fatu into the ring for his team as he turns the tide of the match by dominating Daniel Garcia!
Garcia is in trouble as Roman and Fatu spend the majority of the middle stage of the match working over Daniel Garcia with their superior power. Daniel Garcia fights with everything he has to not go down easily, but struggles against the powerhouses of the Bloodline. Kurt Angle, outside the ring, can be heard talking straight to Daniel, and eventually he manages to break free, hitting a DDT TO JIMMY USO BEFORE MAKING THE HOT TAG TO BUDDY MURPHY!
Buddy Murphy runs wild and even takes it to Jacob Fatu, catching the big man off-guard in a way we haven’t really seen anyone do since he appeared on SmackDown Live. Buddy looks to get him up on his shoulders for MURPHY’S LAW… BUT HE ESCAPES AND TAGS ROMAN BACK IN! Roman goes for the SUPERMAN PUNCH and sends Murphy back… GARCIA BLINDS TAGS BACK IN! Roman charges at Murphy, looking for a SPEAR… BUT MISSES AND COLLIDES WITH THE RINGPOST… GARCIA ROLLS HIM UP FOR A CLOSE 2 COUNT! Garcia doesn’t let up there, though, and looks to get Roman Reigns in a HEEL HOOK!
Shades of Daniel Bryan as Roman is in a ton of pain in the middle of the ring! Jacob Fatu and Jimmy Uso try to make the save for him BUT GABLE AND MURPHY TAKE THEM OUT OF THE RING! The crowd wills Garcia on, hoping for the tap out… BUT PAUL HEYMAN CLIMBS ONTO THE APRON DISTRACTING THE REFEREE! Jey Uso uses that to sneak into the ring and SPLASHES GARCIA! He rolls out of the ring, and Roman runs off the ropes, hitting Garcia with the SPEAR! He hooks the leg as the other two stop Buddy and Garcia 1 2 3 The Bloodline wins again!
Winners via pinfall: The Bloodline (13:18)
Roman Reigns gets to his feet, and if there was some concern on his face whilst being locked in the heel hook, it is gone now as the Wiseman raises his arm into the air. The crowd loudly boos as the rest of the Bloodline enter the ring and pose for the live crowd. Outside the ring, we see Alpha Academy regroup as Kurt Angle tells them they will get them back, but SmackDown Live ends with the Bloodline on top once again as we fade to black.
Matches confirmed for next week:
Queen of the Ring 2nd Round match:
Alexa Bliss vs Bianca Belair
Queen of the Ring 2nd Round match:
Ember Moon vs Dani Luna
Singles match:
Adam Cole vs Dominik Dijakovic
Singles match:
Keith Lee vs Jordan Devlin
Singles match:
Sasha Banks vs Zoey Stark
Singles match:
Dominik Mysterio vs Tucker Knight
Matches confirmed for two weeks:
Queen of the Ring 2nd Round match:
Carmella vs Naomi
Queen of the Ring 2nd Round match:
Kay Lee Rae vs Lyra Valkyria
Tag tam match:
AJ Styles and Big Cass vs The Good Brothers
Queen of the Ring
London, England
June 6th 2021
BACK FROM THE DEAD – HALESTORM
Women’s Universal title match:
Rhea Ripley © vs Charlotte Flair
WWE Women’s title match:
Taynara Conti © vs Deonna Purrazzo
Women’s tag team titles match:
Boss ‘N’ Hug Connection © vs Io Shirai and Zoey Stark
Queen of the Ring quarter-final:
Kay Lee Rae or Lyra Valkyria vs Carmella or Naomi
Queen of the Ring quarter-final:
Alexa Bliss or Bianca Belair vs Emma or Natalya
Queen of the Ring quarter-final:
Toni Storm or Ruby Riott vs Tegan Nox or Shayna Baszler
Queen of the Ring quarter-final:
Dani Luna or Ember Moon vs Franky Monet or Liv Morgan
Queen of the Ring semi-final:
Kay Lee Rae or Lyra Valkyria or Carmella or Naomi vs Alexa Bliss or Bianca Belair or Emma or Natalya
Queen of the Ring semi-final:
Toni Storm or Ruby Riott or Tegan Nox or Shayna Baszler vs Dani Luna or Ember Moon or Franky Monet or Liv Morgan
EWR Rating:
68%
Main event:
Elias defeated Riddick Moss via pinfall (4:58)
Millie McKenzie defeated Mercedes Martinez via pinfall (6:39)
Mark Andrews defeated Danny Burch via pinfall (5:00)
Noam Dar defeated Mansoor via submission (6:53)
Main event: Liv Morgan defeated Mia Yim via pinfall (10:03)
